Leflunomide exerts an anti-atherosclerotic effect in WD-fed ApoE-/- mice. (A) Schematic diagram of ApoE-/- mice treatment. (B) The body weight of ApoE-/- mice we investigated was monitored once a week for 12 weeks. n = 18 per group. (C) The TC and TG levels in the plasma of ApoE-/- mice in ND, WD, and leflunomide treatment (named Lef group) group. n = 18 per group. (D) Lipoproteins in the plasma of ApoE-/- mice in ND, WD, and Lef groups were separated by FPLC, and the TC level in the fractions was determined. (E) The plasma blood glucose (n = 18 per group), insulin (n = 8 per group), and GHbA1c (n = 8 per group) levels. (F) The IL-1β, TNFα, and IL-6 levels in the plasma. n = 8 per group. (G) Respective captured digital images of aortas. (H) Respective images of en-face aortas stained by ORO. (J) The en-face aorta lesions area was quantitatively analyzed with Image J software. n = 12 per group. (I, K) Respective images of H&E and ORO-stained aortic sinus cross sections of each group (I), and all stained sections were analyzed and quantified with Image J software (K). Scale bar = 500 μm, n = 6 per group. One-way ANOVA analysis was performed: *P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001.